Microsoft Copilot app: Opt in selected devices to test the updated Copilot desktop app

As communicated in our August 13 Message center post (MC1454108), we are updating the Microsoft 365 Copilot app to provide a simpler, more streamlined Copilot experience across personal and work accounts. Starting August 18, 2026, administrators can opt-in selected Windows and Mac devices to test the updated Microsoft Copilot desktop app before its broader rollout. The updated desktop app uses a Chromium-based architecture to support future enhancements and provides a single app experience across personal and work accounts. Rollout Schedule: Opt-in availability: Begins August 18, 2026. Broader rollout: Begins mid-September, 2026. Impact on your organization: Administrators can manage early access by opting in selected devices and deploying the updates via instructions linked below. This early access allows you to: Test the updated Microsoft Copilot desktop app at your organization before the broader rollout. Validate deployment and app behavior in your organization’s managed environment. Prepare support teams and users for the updated desktop experience. For users on selected devices, the app will update to a Chromium-based architecture. The app will also adopt a simpler name (“Microsoft Copilot”) and icon, and will include additional visual cues that help users distinguish between their work or school and personal account experiences including a different background color for each account type and “Work” label under the user profile in the navigation pane. Security, compliance, privacy, and enterprise controls remain unchanged. The application ID is not changing, and existing policies will continue to function. Action Required/Recommendations: We recommend that administrators: Identify a representative group of Windows and Mac devices for testing. For Windows and Mac devices, review the prerequisites, deployment policies, and platform-specific instructions for the opt-in here. Note: Early access through opt-in is not available for organizations in special cloud environments. We will provide an update when early access becomes available for these environments. Verify that Microsoft Edge Update URLs are included in your network allow list to support a seamless app update. No action is required if these URLs are already allowed. Learn more here. Inform participating users that they may see the updated Microsoft Copilot app desktop experience. Monitor the selected devices and incorporate findings into your broader deployment planning. No action is required if your organization does not want to test the updated desktop app before the broader rollout. Compliance considerations: No compliance concerns identified, please validate for your organization.